Question 1

Which of the following statements is true about the various structures of the brain?

Accepted Answer

The superior colliculus and inferior colliculus are both involved in relaying sensory information and controlling movement. The superior colliculus is primarily responsible for visual processing and eye movements, while the inferior colliculus is primarily responsible for auditory processing. Neither the pons nor medulla, nor the cerebellum, are responsible for these functions.

Question 2

Which of the following neurotransmitters plays an important role in regulating emotional well-being and aggressive impulses?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin plays an important role in regulating emotional well-being, mood, and impulse control. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression, anxiety, and aggressive behavior.

Question 3

Degradation refers to the:

Accepted Answer

Degradation refers to the breakdown of neurotransmitters by enzymes in the synaptic gap. This breakdown is necessary to prevent the overstimulation of postsynaptic neurons and to ensure the proper functioning of neural communication. Option A (release of neurons) is incorrect as neurons are not released into the synaptic gap. Option B (reabsorption of the neurotransmitter) is incorrect as reabsorption refers to the reuptake of neurotransmitters by the initial neuron, not their breakdown. Option C (attachment of the neurotransmitter to a receptor) is incorrect as it refers to the initial stage of synaptic transmission, while degradation occurs after the neurotransmitter has been released and transmitted.

Question 4

A _____ is a treatment, usually based on a theory of a disorder, that addresses the factors that theory says cause the disorder.

Accepted Answer

Therapy is a treatment approach that is designed to address specific factors or symptoms associated with a particular disorder. It is based on a theory or theories about the causes of the problems that someone is experiencing and aims to help individuals learn new coping strategies and ways of thinking to manage their symptoms. Practices and modus operandi are general terms that do not specifically refer to treatment approaches for psychological disorders, and a hypothesis is an educated guess about a phenomenon that requires testing before it can be considered a theory.

Question 5

Cindy's mood has become increasingly unstable since her traffic accident. She often experiences bouts of aggression and fits of rage in reaction to the slightest provocation. At other times, she can be overly passive and fails to recognize direct threats. Most likely, damage has occurred in the _____ of Cindy's brain.

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is responsible for regulating emotions and behaviors related to survival, such as aggression and fear. Damage to this area of the brain can result in mood instability, including frequent outbursts of anger or periods of passivity. The other options (temporal lobe, cerebellum, and medulla) are not directly involved in regulating emotions and behaviors related to survival.

Question 6

Which of the following best defines a theory?

Accepted Answer

A theory provides a framework for asking questions about a phenomenon and for gathering and interpreting information about that phenomenon. The other options do not fully capture the definition of a theory.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true of subcortical structures?

Accepted Answer

The thalamus acts as a relay station, directing incoming sensory information to the appropriate areas of the cerebrum for processing.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true about the diathesis-stress model of the development of disorders?

Accepted Answer

The diathesis-stress model proposes that individuals have a vulnerability to developing a disorder, which can be biological, psychological, or social in nature. However, it is the presence of a stressor that triggers or causes the disorder to manifest. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. Option B is incorrect as it suggests that minimal stress can lead to a disorder, which is not necessarily true. Option C also contains some inaccuracies as it suggests that psychological and social vulnerability create stressors, whereas stressors may arise independently of an individual's vulnerability. Option D is incorrect as it states that biological factors are the main contributors to the disorder, which is not always the case.

Question 9

Dopamine plays an important role in:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dopamine plays an important role in:
...

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the nature-nurture question of abnormality?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following best describes the...

Question 11

Abnormality that involves eating, drinking, and sexual behaviors are the result of the dysfunction of the:

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating essential functions such as eating, drinking, and sexual behaviors. Dysfunctions in the hypothalamus can result in abnormal eating, drinking, and sexual behaviors.

Question 12

Maria and her parents recently moved to a new state because her mother received a job transfer. Maria has had difficulty adjusting to her new school, and has been suffering from loss of appetite, irritability, and lack of interest in her usual activities. Assuming that Maria's behavior meets the criteria for abnormal behavior, which of the following would most likely be the best approach to explaining Maria's behavior?

Accepted Answer

The psychological approach focuses on the individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, which would be the most appropriate approach to explain Maria's behavior. This approach typically examines factors such as stress, past experiences, and coping mechanisms in order to determine the causes of abnormal behavior. Maria's difficulty adjusting to her new school and her mother's job transfer may be contributing factors to her behavior, which can be explored through the psychological approach.

Question 13

The outer layer of the cerebrum is called the _____.

Accepted Answer

The outer layer of the cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex. The hippocampus is a structure within the temporal lobe that is involved in learning and memory. The thalamus is a structure deep within the brain that relays sensory information to the cortex. The limbic system is a collection of structures that are involved in emotion, motivation, and memory.

Question 14

The biological approach to abnormality focuses on all of the following causes of abnormality EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The biological approach to abnormality focuses on brain dysfunction, genetic abnormalities, and biochemical imbalances as potential causes of abnormality. Poor physiological responses are not typically considered a specific cause within this approach.

Question 15

A psychologist who applies a sociocultural approach to anxiety disorders would:

Accepted Answer

A sociocultural approach to anxiety disorders considers the influence of cultural values and the social environment on the development and expression of anxiety. This approach recognizes that anxiety is not solely a biological or psychological phenomenon, but also a sociocultural one. Therefore, psychologists who apply this approach would study the ways in which cultural and social factors may contribute to anxiety, such as the cultural norms surrounding fear or the impact of social stressors on anxiety levels.

Question 16

The cerebral cortex is responsible for:

Accepted Answer

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain and is responsible for advanced thinking processes such as perception, thinking, and decision-making.

Question 17

When the initial neuron releasing a neurotransmitter into the synapse reabsorbs some of the neurotransmitter and thereby decreases the amount of neurotransmitter left in the synapse, the process is called _____.

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is reuptake, where the initial neuron reabsorbs some of the neurotransmitter it released into the synapse, leading to a decrease in the amount of neurotransmitter left in the synapse.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is true regarding the different approaches to abnormality and the continuum model?

Accepted Answer

The statement that proponents of the sociocultural approach tend to view abnormal behaviors as understandable consequences of social stresses in people's lives is true. This is in line with the continuum model, which emphasizes the importance of social and cultural factors in shaping human behavior and experience. The biological approach has historically been associated with a categorical model of abnormality, while proponents of the psychological approach have been divided on the issue of the continuum versus categorical models.

Question 19

Neurotransmitters are released into the _____, the gap between synaptic terminals and adjacent neurons, and then bind to special _____, molecules on the membrane of adjacent neurons.

Accepted Answer

Neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic gap (synapse) and then bind to special molecules on the membrane of adjacent neurons called receptors. The options of dendrites, axons, and cell bodies are all parts of the neurons themselves and are not the correct answer to complete the described pathway of neurotransmitter release and binding.

Question 20

Biochemicals that carry impulses from one neuron to another in the brain and in other parts of the nervous system are called _____.

Accepted Answer

Biochemicals that carry impulses from one neuron to another in the brain and in other parts of the nervous system are called neurotransmitters. Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to affect other organs and tissues, not necessarily just neurons. Electrical transmissions and synaptic responses both refer to the communication between neurons, but they do not specifically refer to the biochemicals involved in carrying the impulses.

Quiz 2: Theories and Treatment of Abnormality